Mark Duggan family appeal for peace but vow to continue fight for 'justice'

The family of Mark Duggan today appealed for calm in London after the jury at his inquest ruled he had been lawfully killed by police.

His aunt Carole Duggan vowed that the relatives’ struggle for justice would continue but urged: “No more demonstrations, no more violence.” She spoke out as hundreds of riot police were on stand-by amid fears of fresh disorder after violent scenes outside the Royal Courts of Justice following the inquest there.

The jury yesterday ruled Mr Duggan, a prominent gang member, was not holding a gun when an officer shot him dead in August 2011.

Police in Tottenham last night Picture: Nigel Howard
Today both David Cameron and Met chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe led the official pleas for calm. Carole Duggan, speaking on BBC’s Today programme, denied that her comments outside the High Court yesterday in which she cried out “no justice, no peace” were intended to inflame disorder.

She said the words were merely a slogan used “by lots of people who have lost somebody within their family in unjust ways. So it’s just one thing we say in response to our struggle really.

“But we will not give peace to the authorities until we get justice. This has got to be dealt with in the right way through the courts. No more demonstrations, no more violence.

“We’ll have to fight this struggle, we’ll go through this struggle peacefully.”

Mr Duggan, 29, whose death sparked protests that exploded into riots and looting across the country, was shot when police stopped the taxi in which he was travelling in Tottenham.

Mark Duggan's mother, Pam Duggan (right) and her son Marlon Duggan
After a four-month inquest, the jury found that although he had a gun in the cab, he most likely threw it on to a grass verge as the car came to a stop.

Friends and family reacted with fury at the finding, some shouting abuse at the jury of seven women and three men as they left the court.

David Cameron today called on people to “respect judicial processes” after the stormy reactions to the verdict.

He told BBC London the death was “a matter of great regret” but called for respect for the courts.

The Prime Minister added: “I very much respect Mark Duggan’s aunt for saying they want to pursue their case through the courts rather than on the streets. That’s absolutely right.”

Justice minister Chris Grayling appeared to call for action against individuals threatening the jury, saying: “Jurors are ordinary members of the public who are carrying out a very important civic duty and they must have every protection as they do so. Threats against them are wholly unacceptable and must be treated as such.”

More than 100 people gathered to protest last night outside Tottenham police station — the scene of the flashpoint for the riots two years ago — but there was little trouble.

'Lawfully killed': Mark Duggan
Today Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe was meeting MPs and community leaders in crisis talks to ease tensions following the jury decision. He admitted the shooting had led to a “significant reduction in trust” between London’s black communities and the police and said he was “open to ideas and advice”.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said an offer to meet Duggan family members — including mother Pam — was still open, adding : “They were angry at the verdict and I understand their reaction. Our offer is there to meet them but it is their decision.”

In April firearms officers will begin trials of body-worn video cameras to record evidence and the actions of police officers in a bid to improve public confidence.

Mr Rowley revealed that the Met is also planning changes to the process that allows firearms officers to confer when making notes of an incident, leading to suspicions of collusion.

In Mr Duggan’s case, eight members of the firearms team spent hours together in the same room as they drew up their statements on the shooting. Mr Rowley said in future there would be supervision of the officers notes.